Jeffrey Vories Fowler DO

Jeffrey Vories Fowler DO

Jeffrey Vories Fowler DO
December 10, 1956 – September 25, 2023
Oskaloosa, Iowa | Age 66

Our family is saddened to announce the passing of Jeffrey Vories Fowler, DO, of Oskaloosa on Monday, September 25, 2023, at the University of Iowa Hospital due to surgical complications at the age of 66. He was born on December 10, 1956, at Florida Sanitarium and Hospital in Orlando, FL to Vories and Eunice Keoughan Fowler. Dr. Fowler was the fifth of six children.

Dr. Fowler graduated from Kirksville High School in Kirksville, MO with the class of 1975. Following graduation, he enlisted in the United States Coast Guard and later tried his hand at various occupations including working in the field of offshore oil exploration and construction. After a few years of traveling and working he enrolled at Faulkner State Community College in Bay Minette, AL and graduated in 1986 with an AA in computer science. Returning to the Kirksville area in 1989, Jeff earned a BS in Biology at Truman State University in 1992. He was accepted into the medical program at Oklahoma State College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed the coursework there in 1996, receiving a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. His sister, Marcia Fowler, DO, who inspired and encouraged him to pursue a medical degree, hooded him at the graduation ceremony. He completed an ob/gyn residency program at the Henry Ford Health System Riverside Osteopathic Hospital in Trenton, MI in 2000.

Following residency, Dr. Fowler became board certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. He later became a fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists. He was also a member of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, as well as the American Osteopathic Association.

Dr. Fowler worked as a staff ob/gyn at Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan, MO from 2000 to 2002, where he began repayment of his obligation to the National Health Service Corps for a scholarship he accepted during medical school. He then moved his family to Pueblo, CO, and worked for the Pueblo Community Health Center from 2002 to 2004, where he completed fulfillment of his scholarship obligation. He then pursued his dream of establishing a solo ob/gyn practice in Pueblo in 2004. He began with a rented office space and then moved into a medical office building that he designed and had constructed. Upon completion of the building, the practice began operating under the dba, Eagleridge Women’s Healthcare.
Jeff made the decision to close his practice and move his daughters closer to extended family in 2012. He accepted a position at Mahaska Health Partnership in Oskaloosa, IA where he was on staff until 2020. After leaving Mahaska Health Partnership, Dr. Fowler began accepting locum tenens assignments in Iowa, Missouri, Colorado, Georgia, and Wyoming. He was a contracted provider with CompHealth, Weatherby, and Fusion Health Care. He delivered thousands of babies over the course of his career.

He was fiercely loved by and devoted to his wife, Lori Harness Fowler, whom he wed in Kirksville, MO on June 30, 1990, as well as his three daughters: Debra, Olivia, and Rhyienne.

Despite his demanding career, he was an actively engaged and hands-on parent. He provided many opportunities for his children to explore nature and travel. He helped with countless school and art projects and rarely missed a school game or performance. He provided many opportunities for his daughters to grow and mature into the confident and capable young women that they are today. He continued a family legacy that they will carry forward.

When he wasn’t working, he had many varied interests and hobbies. Taking after his mother and Grandfather Keoughan, he loved to cook and try new recipes. He was a movie and trivia buff and binge-watcher. He had a well-equipped shop and enjoyed metal and woodworking and was skilled at making any piece of furniture his family requested. He enjoyed electronics and building his own computers. He never shied away from any home improvement project. Sometimes things got out of hand, but he was always able to persevere and complete the job with very few parts left over, usually. He had a lifelong sense of adventure and an incomparable sense of humor and wit. He enjoyed all things outdoors: cutting wood, gardening, hunting, camping, and fishing. He stood firm in his conservative views and enjoyed keeping up on politics and current events. He was never afraid of a challenge and enjoyed the thrill of just giving things a try.

Those left to honor and cherish his memory include his wife, Lori; daughters: Debra Fowler and husband Sam Hardeman, of St. Paul, MN, Olivia Fowler of Seattle, WA, and Rhyienne Fowler of Oskaloosa, IA. He was a beloved brother and survived by all of his siblings: Judy LeBaron of Orlando, FL, Dr. Marcia Fowler Simmons and husband, Glen, of Sanibel, FL, Dr. Patricia Keoughan of San Antonio, TX, Kathryn Miller and husband, Larry, of Adamsville, TN, and Martin Fowler and wife, Angie, of Booneville, AL. Jeff was a favored uncle to many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Mary Ann Cook of Fairfield, IA; and sister-in-law, Angie Mocol of Packwood, IA.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son in law, Anthony Nimtz; a nephew, Owen Fowler; a father-in-law, Robert Harness; a step-father-in-law, Jack Cook; and brother-in-law, Kurt Harness.

The family requests memorial contributions be sent to the George Daily Auditorium. Your gift will help create a legacy for Jeff’s love of the performing arts and honor the efforts of his youngest daughter, Rhyienne, to create a shared community costume space in the GDA to impact theatre in the Oskaloosa community. The mailing address is 1800 N 3rd St, Oskaloosa, IA 52577. To donate online go to http://www.georgedaily.org. Please designate your contribution to be in Jeff Fowler’s memory.

There is no service planned at this time. A gathering of family members will take place at a later date.

To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Jeffrey Vories Fowler DO please visit the Bates Funeral Chapel Sympathy Store.